Hazing Litigation Guide for Driscoll, Texas Families
A Message to Parents in Driscoll, Texas
If you are a parent in Driscoll, Texas, watching your child leave for a university like Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, or campuses across our great state, your deepest hope is for their safety and success. Yet beneath the surface of campus traditions and Greek letters, a dangerous reality persists. We are The Manginello Law Firm, operating statewide as Attorney911, and we represent families just like yours. Right now, we are actively litigating one of the most serious hazing cases in Texas history, proving that these are not just urban legends—they are real, they are harmful, and they demand accountability.
This guide is written specifically for you, the parents and families in Driscoll, Nueces County, and the entire Coastal Bend region. We will explain what modern hazing truly looks like at Texas universities, the laws designed to protect your child, and the painful lessons learned from national tragedies. We will focus on the campuses your children attend, from our local institutions to major hubs like the University of Houston and Texas A&M, and show you the legal paths available when institutions fail. Our goal is not to scare you, but to empower you with knowledge. Because when you know what to look for and what rights you have, you can act decisively to protect your family.
Immediate Help for a Hazing Emergency
If you suspect your child is in danger right now, please act immediately.
- Call 911 for any medical emergency.
- Then call us at 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911). We provide immediate legal guidance in crises—that is our promise as the Legal Emergency Lawyers™.
In the First 48 Hours:
- Get Medical Attention: Prioritize health above all else. Even if your child insists they are “fine,” seek a professional medical evaluation.
- Preserve Evidence: Before digital evidence disappears:
- Screenshot everything: Group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage), text messages, and social media DMs.
- Photograph Injuries: Take clear pictures of any bruises, burns, or other injuries from multiple angles.
- Save Physical Items: Do not wash clothing or dispose of any objects used in hazing.
- Document Memories: Write down everything your child tells you—dates, times, locations, and names—while their memory is fresh.
- Do NOT:
- Confront the fraternity, sorority, or organization directly.
- Sign any documents from the university or an insurance company.
- Post details about the incident on public social media.
- Allow your child to delete messages or “clean up” their phone.
Contacting an experienced hazing attorney within the first day or two is critical. Evidence vanishes quickly, witnesses are coached, and institutions move to control the narrative. We can help you navigate this from the start. Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911.
Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like in Texas
Hazing is not a relic of the past or a simple “prank.” It is a calculated pattern of abuse that exploits power dynamics and has evolved with technology. For Texas families, understanding its modern forms is the first step toward recognition and prevention.
Hazing is legally defined in Texas as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers the mental or physical health of a student for the purpose of initiation into or affiliation with any organization. Crucially, a victim’s so-called “consent” is not a defense under Texas law. The pressure to belong, the fear of exclusion, and the imbalance of power between pledges and members create an environment where true consent is impossible.
Modern hazing typically falls into three escalating categories:
1. Subtle Hazing (Often Dismissed as “Tradition”)
This establishes a power imbalance and sets the stage for worse abuse. It includes:
- Mandatory Servitude: Acting as a 24/7 designated driver, cleaning members’ rooms, or running personal errands.
- Social Isolation & Control: Being cut off from non-member friends, requiring permission to attend family events, or being “on call” at all hours via group chat.
- Psychological Manipulation: Being assigned a derogatory nickname, forced to wear specific identifiers (like a “pledge fanny pack”), or subjected to “interviews” designed to humiliate.
2. Harassment Hazing (Causing Clear Discomfort & Harm)
This creates an abusive, hostile environment and includes:
- Sleep Deprivation: Mandatory late-night “meetings,” 3 AM wake-up calls, or multi-day events with minimal rest.
- Forced Consumption: Being made to eat excessive amounts of bland food (like milk or bread) or disgusting combinations until ill.
- Extreme Physical “Workouts”: Punitive calisthenics called “smokings”—such as hundreds of push-ups or wall-sits until collapse—disguised as “conditioning.”
- Public Humiliation: Being forced to perform embarrassing acts in public or endure verbal “roasts.”
3. Violent Hazing (High Risk of Severe Injury or Death)
This is criminal conduct that has led to national tragedies:
- Forced Alcohol Consumption: The most common fatal pattern, including “lineup” drinking games, “Big/Little” nights with entire bottles of liquor, and trivia games where wrong answers mandate drinking.
- Physical Assault: Beatings, paddling, “glass ceiling” tackling rituals, or forced fights.
- Sexualized Hazing: Forced nudity, simulated sexual acts, or coercion.
- Dangerous Environments: Being locked in freezing rooms, abandoned, or subjected to chemical exposure.
The Digital Evolution: Today, hazing is orchestrated through GroupMe and WhatsApp. Victims are tracked via location-sharing apps, harassed if they don’t instantly respond to messages, and humiliated through coordinated social media posts. Hazing often moves off-campus to Airbnb rentals or rural properties to avoid university oversight, making it harder for parents in Driscoll to see the signs until it’s too late.
The Texas Law & Liability Framework for Hazing
Texas has robust laws against hazing, and understanding them is crucial for Driscoll families seeking accountability. The primary authority is the Texas Education Code, Chapter 37, Subchapter F.
Texas Hazing Law (Education Code §37.151-§37.156):
- Definition: Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off campus, that endangers a student’s physical or mental health for the purpose of initiation into or affiliation with an organization.
- Criminal Penalties:
- Class B Misdemeanor: Hazing that does not cause serious injury.
- Class A Misdemeanor: Hazing that causes injury requiring medical attention.
- State Jail Felony: Hazing that causes serious bodily injury or death.
- Organizational Liability: Fraternities, sororities, and other groups can be fined up to $10,000 per violation and lose university recognition.
- Consent is NOT a Defense: Texas law (§37.155) is explicit—a victim’s agreement is irrelevant under the coercive pressure of hazing.
- Immunity for Reporters: Individuals who in good faith report hazing or call for emergency medical help are protected from liability.
Criminal vs. Civil Cases: Two Paths to Accountability
- Criminal Cases: Brought by the state (District Attorney) to punish wrongdoing. Charges can range from hazing and furnishing alcohol to minors up to assault, manslaughter, or negligent homicide. A criminal conviction can powerfully support a civil case but is not required to file one.
- Civil Lawsuits: Brought by victims and their families to recover compensation and force institutional change. These cases focus on negligence, wrongful death, negligent supervision, and premises liability. The burden of proof is different, and the goal is to make the victim whole and prevent future harm.
Who Can Be Held Liable in a Civil Hazing Case?
A thorough investigation seeks to hold every responsible entity accountable, which may include:
- The Individual Perpetrators: The members who planned, executed, or covered up the hazing.
- The Local Chapter: As a functioning organization that allowed a culture of abuse to flourish.
- The National Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters: For failing to adequately supervise, train, or intervene despite knowing patterns of risk. Their insurance policies are often key sources of recovery.
- The University or College: For negligent supervision, deliberate indifference to known risks, or violating duties under Title IX or the Clery Act. Public universities like those in the Texas A&M or University of Texas systems have certain legal immunities, but exceptions exist for gross negligence.
- Third Parties: Property owners of off-campus houses, alumni advisory boards, and housing corporations.
A National Pattern of Tragedy: Lessons for Texas Families
The heartbreaking cases below are not just news stories; they are legal precedents that show how hazing operates and how courts have responded. They prove that the scenarios we fear are devastatingly real.
The Alcohol Poisoning Pattern:
- Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State University (Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021): A pledge was forced to drink an entire bottle of liquor during a “Big/Little” event. He died of alcohol poisoning. The chapter was expelled, members were criminally convicted, and Mr. Foltz’s family reached a $10 million settlement with the national fraternity and university.
- Max Gruver – Louisiana State University (Phi Delta Theta, 2017): During a “Bible study” drinking game, Mr. Gruver was forced to drink when he answered questions incorrectly. His blood alcohol content was 0.495%. He died, members were convicted, and Louisiana passed the Max Gruver Act, strengthening felony hazing penalties. His family later secured a $6.1 million verdict.
The Physical & Ritualized Hazing Pattern:
- Chun “Michael” Deng – Baruch College (Pi Delta Psi, 2013): A pledge was blindfolded, weighted down, and repeatedly tackled during a “glass ceiling” ritual at a remote retreat. He died from traumatic brain injuries. The national fraternity was criminally convicted of manslaughter and assault—a landmark case holding the organization itself criminally liable.
The Catastrophic Injury Pattern:
- Danny Santulli – University of Missouri (Phi Gamma Delta, 2021): An 18-year-old pledge was forced to drink a lethal amount of alcohol during a “pledge dad reveal.” He suffered catastrophic, permanent brain damage, leaving him unable to walk, talk, or see. His family has settled with 22 defendants, and the case remains a stark example of non-fatal hazing destroying a life.
What This Means for Driscoll Families: These cases establish critical legal principles: national organizations can be liable, universities can be sued, “consent” is meaningless, and cover-ups worsen liability. When similar conduct occurs at a Texas school, these precedents form the foundation of a powerful lawsuit.
The Flagship Case: Active Litigation at the University of Houston
Right now, in Harris County, we are leading the litigation in a case that exemplifies the brutal reality of modern hazing. This is not a historical reference; this is our current, active work on behalf of a Texas family.
Leonel Bermudez v. University of Houston & Pi Kappa Phi (Beta Nu Chapter)
In late 2025, we filed a $10 million lawsuit on behalf of Leonel Bermudez, a University of Houston student who was viciously hazed as a pledge of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity’s Beta Nu chapter.
The Hazing Conduct:
- Humiliation & Control: Pledges were forced to carry a “pledge fanny pack” 24/7 containing condoms, sex toys, and other degrading items. They faced strict dress codes, hours-long “study” blocks, and overnight chauffeuring duties.
- Systematic Physical Abuse: Hazing occurred at the UH chapter house, a residence on Culmore Drive, and at Yellowstone Boulevard Park. It included:
- Sprints, bear crawls, and “save-your-brother” drills.
- Being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding.”
- Forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting, followed immediately by more sprints.
- A November 3rd “workout” of over 100 push-ups and 500 squats under threat of expulsion.
- Institutional Knowledge: Another pledge was allegedly hog-tied face-down on a table for over an hour. The lawsuit alleges the university and national fraternity knew or should have known about this systemic abuse.
The Medical Catastrophe:
After the November 3rd hazing, Mr. Bermudez’s health rapidly declined. He could not stand without help, began passing brown urine, and was rushed to the hospital. He was hospitalized for four days with a diagnosis of rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown) and acute kidney failure. His creatine kinase levels were critically high. He faces an ongoing risk of permanent kidney damage and profound psychological trauma.
The Aftermath & Our Role:
Following reports, Pi Kappa Phi’s national headquarters suspended the Beta Nu chapter on November 6, 2025. On November 14, chapter members voted to surrender their charter, shutting it down. The University of Houston called the conduct “deeply disturbing” and promised cooperation with law enforcement. We represent Mr. Bermudez in his fight for justice against the university, the UH System Board of Regents, Pi Kappa Phi’s national headquarters, its housing corporation, and 13 individual fraternity leaders. Media coverage from Click2Houston, ABC13, and Hoodline has brought this case to light, and we continue to litigate it aggressively.
For parents in Driscoll, this case is proof positive: severe hazing is happening at Texas universities right now, and experienced Texas counsel is fighting back.
Texas Universities: A Guide for Driscoll Families
Families in Driscoll and Nueces County send their students to a mix of local institutions and major universities across Texas. Understanding the landscape at these schools is critical.
Local & Regional Campuses for Driscoll Students
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi & Texas A&M University-Kingsville
These institutions, part of the renowned Texas A&M System, are common choices for Driscoll families seeking a quality education close to home. Both have active student organization life.
- Greek Life Presence: These campuses host fraternities and sororities, including chapters of national organizations with complex legal structures. Using our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine, we track the entities behind these groups.
- Accountability: Incidents at these schools are subject to the same Texas hazing laws and A&M System policies. Liability can extend to national headquarters, local housing corporations, and the university itself.
Other Regional Options: Students may also attend Del Mar College, Coastal Bend College, or universities in San Antonio and the Rio Grande Valley.
Major Texas University Hubs
Many Driscoll students also head to the state’s flagship institutions, where Greek life and tradition are deeply woven into campus culture.
University of Houston (UH)
As detailed in our flagship case, UH has been the site of severe, recent hazing. The university maintains Greek life policies and reporting channels through its Dean of Students office. Any hazing case here would involve Houston-based investigations and potentially Harris County courts.
Texas A&M University (College Station)
The Aggie network is powerful, and with it comes a complex ecosystem of fraternities, sororities, and the Corps of Cadets.
- Corps of Cadets Hazing: There have been lawsuits alleging degrading physical hazing within the Corps, including cases involving simulated sexual acts and restraint.
- Fraternity Incidents: Chapters like Sigma Alpha Epsilon have faced lawsuits at A&M, including one where pledges alleged being covered in industrial-strength cleaner, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin grafts.
- For Driscoll Families: A hazing case at A&M could involve agencies from Brazos County to your home in Nueces County. We understand the statewide network and how to investigate across jurisdictions.
University of Texas at Austin
UT Austin maintains one of the most transparent hazing violation logs in the state, publicly listing sanctioned organizations.
- Public Record: Their website shows repeated sanctions against fraternities like Pi Kappa Alpha for forced consumption and calisthenics, and spirit groups for abusive practices.
- Legal Advantage: This public record of prior violations is a powerful tool in civil litigation, helping to prove an organization’s known dangerous patterns.
Baylor University & Southern Methodist University (SMU)
These private universities have their own conduct processes. SMU has suspended chapters like Kappa Alpha Order for paddling and forced drinking. Baylor has faced hazing issues within its athletic programs. Pursuing claims against private institutions involves different strategic considerations than public universities.
Public Records: The Greek Organizations Serving Driscoll Families
We maintain a proprietary Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine built from IRS data, university records, and commercial databases. We do this so families never start from zero. Below is a sample of the kind of organizational data we use to identify every potentially liable entity in a hazing case. This is a snapshot of the 1,423 Greek-related organizations we track across 25 Texas metros.
Sample IRS B83 Organizational Listings (Texas-Registered):
- Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, EIN 364091267, Waco, TX 76710. IRS B83 filing.
- Kappa Sigma – Mu Gamma Chapter Inc, EIN 273662583, Lufkin, TX 75904. IRS B83 filing.
- Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, EIN 746064445, Nederland, TX 77627. IRS B83 filing.
- Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, EIN 383742830, El Paso, TX 79968. IRS B83 filing (University of Texas at El Paso chapter).
- Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc, EIN 462267515, Frisco, TX 75035. IRS B83 filing.
- Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity Inc, EIN 475381060, San Marcos, TX 78666. IRS B83 filing (Theta Iota chapter).
Corpus Christi Metro Area & Cause IQ Data:
The Corpus Christi metropolitan area, which includes Nueces County and Driscoll, is home to numerous Greek organizations. Our data shows a network of alumni chapters, honor societies, and undergraduate entities tied to schools like TAMU-CC and TAMU-Kingsville. For example, our tracking includes entities like the Delta Zeta Sorority – Corpus Christi Alumnae chapter and the Sigma Chi Fraternity – Zeta Pi chapter at Texas A&M-Kingsville.
Why This Directory Matters:
When hazing occurs, the first defense from a national fraternity is often, “That was a rogue chapter; we didn’t know.” Our data engine helps dismantle that claim. We can identify the housing corporation that owns the property, the alumni association that supports the chapter, and the national headquarters’ exact legal identity. This allows us to pursue every source of insurance coverage and accountability, ensuring Driscoll families don’t hit a dead end because an organization claims it doesn’t exist on paper.
Fraternity & Sorority National Histories: Proving a Pattern
A single hazing incident is not an isolated event. It is often the latest manifestation of a national organization’s failed culture and risk management. In court, proving this pattern is essential.
Organizations with Documented National Hazing Histories:
- Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike): National pattern of fatal alcohol hazing at “Big/Little” events (Stone Foltz, David Bogenberger).
- Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE): One of the deadliest fraternities historically; faced lawsuits at Texas A&M for chemical burns and at UT Austin for assault.
- Phi Delta Theta: The Max Gruver case at LSU exemplifies its history with dangerous drinking games.
- Pi Kappa Phi: The Andrew Coffey death at Florida State and our active UH case involving Leonel Bermudez show a pattern of severe physical and alcohol hazing.
- Kappa Alpha Order: A history of paddling and physical abuse, including documented suspensions at SMU.
How This Helps Your Case:
When we represent a family from Driscoll whose child was hazed by, for example, a Pi Kappa Phi chapter at their university, we don’t just look at that one event. We subpoena the national headquarters’ records to show how they handled—or failed to handle—identical incidents at other chapters. This evidence of prior notice and inadequate response is what transforms a case against a few students into a case against the powerful institution that enabled them. It is how we overcome the “rogue chapter” defense and seek meaningful, preventative justice.
Building a Hazing Case with Attorney911
If your family is facing this crisis, you need a firm with a strategic, methodical approach and the resources to execute it. Our process is built on 25+ years of complex litigation experience.
1. Immediate Evidence Preservation & Investigation:
We act with urgency to secure evidence before it disappears.
- Digital Forensics: We work with experts to recover deleted group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp), social media posts, and location data.
- Comprehensive Discovery: We subpoena records from the university (prior conduct violations, Clery reports, internal emails), the national fraternity/sorority (risk management files, incident reports, communication with the chapter), and local authorities.
- Witness Interviews: We identify and interview other pledges, former members, roommates, and advisors who may have critical information.
2. Identifying All Liable Parties & Insurance Coverage:
Our insider knowledge of insurance defense tactics is invaluable. Mr. Lupe Peña, our associate attorney, spent years as a defense attorney for large insurance companies. He knows how they value claims, fight coverage, and use delay tactics. We identify every potential policy: the national organization’s general liability, the local chapter’s insurance, the university’s umbrella policy, and even homeowner’s policies of individual members. We navigate coverage disputes and “intentional act” exclusions that insurers use to deny claims.
3. Damages: What Families Can Recover
Civil lawsuits seek to make victims whole and hold defendants accountable. Recoverable damages include:
- Economic Damages: All past and future medical expenses (ER, hospitalization, surgery, therapy, lifelong care), lost wages, and diminished future earning capacity.
- Non-Economic Damages: Compensation for physical pain, emotional trauma, PTSD, humiliation, and loss of enjoyment of life.
- Wrongful Death Damages (if applicable): Funeral costs, loss of financial support, and the profound loss of companionship, love, and guidance for the family.
- Punitive Damages: In cases of egregious conduct or cover-ups, courts may award damages intended to punish the defendant and deter future behavior.
We collaborate with life-care planners, economists, and medical experts to build a comprehensive picture of the full, lifelong impact of the hazing.
Practical Guides for Driscoll Parents & Students
For Parents: Warning Signs & Action Steps
Warning Signs Your Child May Be Being Hazed:
- Unexplained injuries, bruises, or burns.
- Extreme fatigue, sleep deprivation, or drastic weight changes.
- Sudden secrecy about organization activities (“I can’t talk about it”).
- Withdrawal from family, old friends, or dropping grades.
- Constant anxiety about phone messages and mandatory “meetings.”
- Requests for money for unexplained “fines” or expenses.
What to Do if You Suspect Hazing:
- Talk Calmly: Ask open-ended questions. Express concern, not anger.
- Prioritize Safety: If there is immediate danger, call 911.
- Preserve Evidence: Gently encourage your child to save—not delete—any messages or photos.
- Document: Write down what you’re told with dates and names.
- Seek Medical Care: A doctor can document injuries and is a mandatory reporter.
- Consult an Attorney Before Reporting: We can advise you on how to report to the university or police in a way that protects your child’s rights and preserves evidence. Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911.
For Students: Is This Hazing? Your Rights & Safety.
- The Test: If you are being pressured, humiliated, or endangered to belong, it is hazing. Your “consent” under pressure is not real consent.
- Your Safety Plan: Have an exit strategy. Text a code word to a trusted friend outside the group if you need help. Your phone is a critical evidence tool—learn to use it to document what’s happening.
- Your Rights: Texas law protects you if you report hazing or call for emergency medical help, even if you were drinking underage. You have the right to leave an organization at any time without retaliation.
- If You’ve Been Hurt: Your health is paramount. Go to the hospital. Tell the doctors exactly what happened. Then, tell your parents and contact a lawyer. We can guide you through the next steps confidentially.
Critical Mistakes That Can Harm a Hazing Case
- Deleting Evidence: “Cleaning up” group chats or social media appears as a cover-up and destroys your case.
- Confronting the Organization First: This gives them a head start to destroy evidence, coach witnesses, and lawyer up.
- Signing University Papers Blindly: Universities may offer quick “resolutions” that require you to waive your right to sue.
- Posting on Social Media: Public posts can be used by defense attorneys to contradict your story.
- Waiting Too Long: Evidence disappears, witnesses graduate, and the two-year statute of limitations in Texas continues to tick.
Why Attorney911 is the Right Choice for Driscoll Families
When your family is in a legal emergency caused by hazing, you need more than a general personal injury lawyer. You need Texas attorneys who understand the complex interplay of university systems, national fraternity networks, and insurance company tactics.
Our Proven Advantages in Hazing Litigation:
- Active, High-Stakes Litigation Experience: We are currently litigating the Leonel Bermudez v. UH & Pi Kappa Phi case. We are in the fight right now against a major Texas university and a national fraternity. This is not theoretical expertise; it is proven, current capability.
- Insurance Insider Knowledge: Mr. Lupe Peña (he/him) is a former insurance defense attorney for a national firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers will try to deny, delay, and undervalue your claim. We use their playbook against them.
- Complex Institutional Litigation Credentials: Managing Partner Ralph Manginello was one of the few Texas attorneys involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation. We have faced billion-dollar defendants with endless legal resources. We are not intimidated by national fraternities or university regents.
- Data-Driven Investigation: Our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—tracking over 1,400 Greek entities—means we start your case with a deep understanding of the organizational landscape. We know how to find the housing corporations, alumni associations, and national headquarters that hold liability and insurance.
- Dual Civil & Criminal Capability: Mr. Manginello’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand criminal hazing charges. We can advise on both fronts, whether you are a victim, a witness, or a concerned family member.
- Spanish-Language Services: Mr. Peña speaks fluent Spanish. Se habla Español. We are committed to serving all Texas families.
We serve clients from our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, and we represent families across Texas, including those right here in Driscoll, Corpus Christi, and throughout Nueces County.
Your Next Step: A Free, Confidential Consultation
If hazing has impacted your family, you do not have to navigate this alone. The path to accountability begins with a conversation.
Contact The Manginello Law Firm / Attorney911 today for a free, no-obligation consultation.
- Call our 24/7 line: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
- Direct Line: (713) 528-9070
- Email: ralph@atty911.com or lupe@atty911.com
- Website: https://attorney911.com
In your consultation, we will:
- Listen to your story with empathy and without judgment.
- Review any evidence or information you have.
- Explain your legal rights and options under Texas law.
- Discuss our investigative approach and what you can expect.
- Answer your questions about the process, timeline, and costs.
We work on a contingency fee basis for personal injury cases, meaning you pay no attorney fees unless we win your case. Our goal is to provide you with the knowledge, support, and aggressive representation you need to seek justice for your child and protect others from the same pain.
Legal Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. The information is current as of late 2025. Laws and circumstances change. Every case is unique, and outcomes depend on specific facts. If you have been affected by hazing, please contact a qualified attorney to discuss your specific situation.
